Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present an addendum to the explanatory memorandum.

Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing and Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to put on record my thanks to the minister for the briefing in relation to the amendments that appeared in the Senate to this Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018.

I think these nine amendments do go some way towards strengthening the bill. I do want to reiterate my concerns that I put on the record in the House, though. We still have a number of concerns on our side of the House. There's clearly a lot of work to do to get this new commission up and running by 1 January. I hope that the government gets onto that job without delay. I also want to put on the record that Labor has not at any stage tried to impede the passage of this bill in getting through either house of parliament. We know how important these bills are to people who are currently in the aged-care system, their families and their loved ones. We need to make sure that we give them as much protection as we can. Obviously, there's now a royal commission into aged-care services in Australia, but I just wanted to put on the record that Labor does support these amendments. We still don't think they go far enough.

Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

These amendments reflect the best of the way in which the parliament works. The amendments are a reflection not only of government but also of opposition and the senators who contributed to the amendments strengthening the bill in order to ensure the quality and safety of senior Australians within the settings they are in. I do want to thank the Hon. Julie Collins for her contribution to the debate as the shadow minister. I appreciate the support she has given in ensuring the passage of the bills so that we're able to establish the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. I thank you and commend the bill.

Question agreed to.